Good grief, bonnie. I hope the Benadryl and the Bactrim work and you are all healed up quickly! Scary stuff.

Goodness knows what antibs were in the IV infusion...but I would think that a reaction to them would have been instant.

Not necessarily -- very few drugs, even IV drugs, cause an instant reaction.

I didn't realize the antibiotic in the IV wasn't Bactrim. If it wasn't, then it sounds like you're having an allergic reaction to whatever was in the IV. When you're feeling better (less woozy from the Benadryl), and you have time, find out what was in the IV. It's worth knowing, so you can keep that in mind if you need antibiotics in the future.

It's been an hour since the Benedryl and, where the red bits were solid, they now appear blotchy. It still itches, but I thing some of the bumps have gone down.

That sounds promising. You can take 2 benadryl every 4-6 hours. I'd take it as often as you can* (on that schedule, I mean) for the next couple of days.

*(I say "as often as you can," because I don't know what you have going on that you need to be awake and alert for -- if you have work, for instance, this week. If you can't take 2 because you need to be awake, try taking 1.)

Bonnie, Bactrim is a sulfa drug, and the rash you are describing sounds almost exactly like the allergic reaction I had when my sulfa allergy emerged. Please go back to the ER and have them check you. Sulfa allergies can kill. Not trying to scare you, but I'm very worried.

ETA: ignore me if what Tep just posted makes more sense.

Pix, I honestly don't know. My immediate reaction to someone with a drug rash is Go! Now! Because you're 100% right -- they can turn into horrific deadly conditions. But OTOH, I've had a lot of rashy drug reactions that Benadryl got under control. So I'm torn.

When in doubt, go to the ER!

ION, I did not realize that Bactrim is a sulfa drug. That's good to know, because while I am allergic to most antibiotics, I can take sulfa drugs (so far).

I think it is both things: If benadryl helps get it under control then there is time to wait. If not, GO.

bonnie, please pay attention to your breathing tho. If it gets worse at all, you need to go.

I don't know if this helps, but when I was in the ER on Wednesday for my allergic reaction, and mentioned that if it hadn't been for the throat swelling, I probably would have waited to go to urgent care in the morning, the instant response was "oh no, you are in the right place". Plus then they gave me very clear instructions that if it happens again I need to go to the ER, even if urgent care is open.

What everyone else said - I hope the Benedryl brings the rash down!! Other "call 911" allergy symptoms are lips tingling and tongue swelling. Is there someone nearby who can come hang with you for a while, or at least check on you periodically?

I developed a sulfa allergy as an adult. Itchy hives, yuck.

Has anyone heard from Bonny?